Door-latch.



C. E. FITCH.

DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19 191?.

1,251,002. Patented Dec. 25,1917.

ATYOR N Er CHARLES E. FITCH, OF GORRECTIONVILLE, IOWA.

DOOR-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Application filed June 19, 1917. Serial No. 175,645.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. FITCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Correctionville, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Door-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a door latch, and more particularly to the class of automatic latches for swinging doors or the like.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a latch of this character wherein the door when swung to closed position will automatically latch, thereby fastening the same, the latch being positive in opera tion should the door become sagged or warped from inclement weather or constant use thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a latch of this character wherein the same can be operated from either side of the door and will positively latch the door closed and securely against open movement, the latch being located on the inside of the door so as to be protected from the weather, and on the opening of the door the latch will not be in the way to interfere with or damage a person or animal passing the door.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a latch of this character which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly etlicacious and reliable in its operation, strong, durable, readily and easily applied to a door and removed there from, and inexpensive in manufacture.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists of the features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a door frame and door, looking toward the inner side thereof, showing the latch constructed in accordance with the invention applied, the latch member being shown by full lines in locking position and by dotted lines in releasing position.

Fig. 2 is an outer side view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the latching member, per .96.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, in detail, A designates generally a portion of a door casing or frame, of the ordinary well known construction, and B the swinging door which when closed abuts a amb or rabbeting strip (J in the door casing or frame to render it weather-tight, as usual, and this door carries the latch hereinafter fully described.

The latch comprises a latching member formed with a curved jaw 5 and a handle or lever 6, the jaw being flattened and formed with a bight 7 at the juncture thereof with the handle or lever 6 to offset the latter from the face of the door B, the jaw being supported for swinging movement at the inner side of the door by a stub bolt 8 which is passed through outer and inner escutcheon plates 9 and 10 and said door B, these plates being suitably fastened to opposite sides of said door, preferably as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The free end of the jaw 5 is split or bifurcated to form guide or trip horns or lingers 11 and 12, respectively, the horn or finger 12 being bent in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the horn or linger 11 which works ina strap loop 13 secured to the inner plate 9, while the horn or finger 12 presents a cam edge 14: for slidable engagement with a keeper plate 15 secured to the jamb strip 0 at the proper point, so that when the door swings to closed position the latching member will be moved by the cam 14: which rides over the keeper plate 15 for the automatic action of said latching member to lock the door closed, the strip C being formed with a pocket 16 which is bridged by said keeper plate to receive the jaw of said latching member. The handle or lever 6, extended from one side of the stub bolt 8, by reason of its weight overbalances the aw 5, thereby causing the latch end of the same to be normally in latching position shown by full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing, while by dotted lines is shown the unlatched position of said member when the handle or lever 6 is manually raised. It is of course understood that the lever or handle 6 is fixed to the stub bolt at the inner side of the door.

On the outer side of the door B is a handle or lever 16 which extends in parallel relation and in the same direction from one side of the bolt 8 relative to the handle 6, and this handle 16 is secured in any suitable manner to the bolt 8 for turning the same to unlatch the door when closed, it thus being seen that the door can be unlatched from either side thereof.

In the closing movement of the door, the horn or finger 12 will be protruded into a path of movement so that its cam edge ll will ride upon the keeper plate 15, thereby tripping the latching member for the latching of the door closed without necessitating manual operation of the latching member. When the door is to be opened, the latch can be manually operated for releasing said door. The door will be latched closed without regard to the sagging or warping thereof, and the operation of the latch is positive for the securing of the door when closed.

The strap loop 13 constitutes a guide for the finger 11 of the jaw, and said jaw is limited in its swinging movement by the coaction of the finger or horn 11 with the strap loop 13, so as to avoid disarrangement of the latch or the complete rotation thereof about its axis of movement.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the latch will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is l. The combination with a fixed keeper, of a latch comprising a curved jaw, means for pivotally connecting the sameto a swinging door, the latch being curved clownwardly from one side of the pivot, a handle on the jaw at the other side of the pivot, and a trip horn cut an l bent outwardly from the free end of the jaw and projecting at substantially right angles to the same to form a cam for engagement with the keeper for the automatic latching of said jaw therewith.

2. The combination, with a fixed keeper, of a latch comprising a curved jaw, means for pivoting the same to a swinging door, a handle on the jaw and offset therefrom at one side of the pivot, said jaw hating a pair of horns or fingers at the free end, one of said horns or fingers being located at substantially right angles to the jaw and at the free end thereof to form a cam for engagement with the keeper for the automatic latching of said jaw therewith on the closing of the door, and a loop for receiving the other horn or finger.

3. The combination with a fixed keeper, of a latch comprising a curved jaw, means for pivoting the same to a swinging door, a handle on th jaw and offset therefrom, a trip horn at substantially right angles to the aw and at the free end thereof to form a cam for engagement with the keeper for the automatic latching of said jaw therewith on the closing of the door, a second horn on the jaw, meansfor receiving said second horn, and a second handle for operating the jaw, the handles being located on opposite sides of the door and extending to one side of the pivotal axis of the jaw for normally sustaining the latter in latchmg position.

The combination, with a fixed keeper, of a latch comprising a curved jaw, means for pivoting the same to a swinging door, ahandle on the jaw and offset therefrom, a trip horn at substantially right angles to the jaw and at the free end thereof to'form a cam for engagement with the keeper for the automatic latching of said jaw therewith on the closing of the door, a second handle for operating the jaw, the handles being located on opposite sides of the door and extending to one side of the pivotal axis of the jaw for normally sustaining the latter in latching position, and a guide loop for the jaw to limit the throw of the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES FITCH.

\Vitnesses VVILLIS L. Frron, B. D, Bnnxnnnrnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). G. 

